Pekin Duck

Looks how to spot one

Dense, soft waterproof feathers

A big, solid duck with a long, broad and deep body and a full, smooth breast. The head is large and rounded on a thick neck, and the short, fairly straight bill is yellow to orange. American Pekins carry the body at a gentle slant of roughly 40 degrees, while European Pekins stand much more upright, almost like a penguin. Ducklings are fluffy and bright yellow.123

Personality what they are like

A placid, steady duck that tends to take life at an unhurried pace. Pekins are described as calm and friendly enough to be a favourite with children, 4-H clubs and backyard keepers. Like most domestic ducks they are less territorial and less combative than their wild mallard ancestors.1654

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Pekins cannot fly, so they stay on the ground and in the water. They enjoy daily time outdoors to forage (they are rated fair foragers) and regular swimming in water deep enough to reach above their backs.578

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Pekins keep themselves clean by preening and bathing, so the keeper's main job is providing clean water. Drinkers should be deep enough for a duck to dip its whole head under. Their soft white feathers show dirt easily, so keeping runs from turning into deep mud helps them look their best. Bedding should be kept dry and refreshed regularly.837

Home where they are happiest

A dry, draught-free and well-ventilated shelter with at least about 0.4-0.55 m2 (4-6 sq ft) of floor per duck and deep bedding (7-10 cm), plus an outdoor run. Housing and runs should be predator-proof, with sturdy fencing, fine hardware mesh, a closed-up house at night and ideally overhead netting. Year-round access to a pool big enough for the whole group is recommended. Young ducklings need a warm brooder (about 32-35 C in week one, lowered weekly to around 21 C by 3-4 weeks) and should not swim unsupervised in their first weeks.78

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete commercial waterfowl feed as the base diet, with starter crumbs of about 22-24% protein for ducklings in their first weeks and a lower-protein feed after that. Fresh vegetables, leafy greens and occasional protein treats such as mealworms can be added. Avocado, chocolate, onion, garlic, nightshade plants and mouldy food should be kept away. Ducks like to eat together, so give enough feeder space for the whole group at once.87

Company who they like around

A flock animal that should live with at least two or three other ducks. Where drakes are kept, a ratio of roughly one drake to four or more ducks keeps the group settled. Feeding and bathing are social activities for them.87

The story where it all began

Mallards were first domesticated in southern China thousands of years ago, and Chinese farmers developed large white ducks around Peking, including a type known as the 'ten-pound duck'; Chinese records of these birds go back to the 1300s. In 1872 the white ducks reached Britain, and that same year James E. Palmer of Stonington, Connecticut, loaded fifteen of them onto a ship in Shanghai. Only nine survived the 124-day voyage, landing in New York in March 1873, and Palmer kept a handful as his breeding stock; within months his few ducks had laid hundreds of eggs. The breed took off on Long Island, New York, where a large duck-farming industry grew up in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which is why it is still called the Long Island duck. It was written into the very first American Standard of Perfection in 1874 and quickly replaced older breeds as America's main table duck. In America the Pekin was crossed with the Aylesbury, giving a more level body, while in Germany crosses with upright Japanese ducks led to the separate, steeply upright German Pekin. The breed joined the British standards in 1901 and today is kept around the world, both commercially and as a backyard and pet duck.162934

Recognised by the official bits

American Poultry Association (APA)

Included in the first American Standard of Perfection in 1874; classed as a Heavy duck breed.1

British Poultry Standards (Poultry Club of Great Britain)

Pekin added to the British standards in 1901 as a heavy breed; UK show birds are mostly of the upright European type.3

Entente Européenne (EE)

The American Pekin is listed as recognised by the European poultry federation.1

FAO (2007)

Conservation status listed as not at risk.1

Metzer Farms breed chart

Conservation status described as abundant.5